Cover Wars: Godzilla Edition

moe.: Perhaps the relatively low count of jambands that cover this tune is due to the fact that moe. has essentially claimed their territory in regards to Godzilla. Of the roughly 300 tunes moe. has covered, Godzilla is the 2nd most frequent (played 83 times, first played in 1997) closely trailing I Wanna Be Sedated (played 91 times, debuted in 1995). Now, I’m not implying there is some type of summit where all the bands get together and make draft picks in regards to covers (or is there?), but to some degree there’s an unwritten rule in place. Source: 6-20-2008

The Smashing Pumpkins: While this particular track is well below the threshold of audio quality you normally hear on Cover Wars, I wanted to include it for the sheer novelty of it. You can actually feel the grunge rock oozing off of this cover as the intro is just as much Smells Like Teen Spirit as it is Godzilla. Interestingly, this concert predates the release of Nirvana’s Nevermind by seven months. Click over to the LMA to stream other tracks including an early take on their first hit, Rhinoceros. Source:2-8-1991

Widespread Panic: WSP used Halloween (as jambands often do) to debut this new cover back in 1997, the same exact day moe. busted out their version of Godzilla. But Panic’s version was destined to be a one-time-played, which is too bad ’cause they really destroy this tune. By far the slowest of the four covers this week, and I think slower than the original. Source:10-31-1997 via Comprehensive Widespread Panic Mix

Homer Simpson: Your Honor, if may sing a little bit of, “Don’t Fear the Reaper,” I think you’ll agree…
Judge Constance Harm: I’m familiar with BOC. But you have got a boy here who is crying out for adult supervision.